J.D. Robb discussion
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Apprentice in Death
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Apprentice in Death (Spoiler Zone)
Jonetta wrote: "I agree, Songbyrd. Reggie was terribly selfish."He really was and I did think the girl was behind it all with how so many were scared of her. The fact she scared people with a smile was super creepy to me. The father Reggie seemed delusional and not together enough to really come up with everything.
I also wonder if the Dad really hated his ex for having a boy with another man more than anything gave another man what he wanted from her.
Jonetta wrote: "Jeanine wrote: "There were so many great moments. One that stands out to me is the discussion between Eve and Roarke about redecorating their master bedroom, and more specifically about the bed he ..."I agree.
I got it, the hardback, and finished it in one evening. Actually I stayed up all night and finished it. I loved it!!. Without giving anything away I loved how Eve tricked the killer into confessing all. I totally give it 5 stars.
Dee wrote: "I got it, the hardback, and finished it in one evening. Actually I stayed up all night and finished it. I loved it!!. Without giving anything away I loved how Eve tricked the killer into confessing..."AGREE!!!
I loved this book. I think Brotherhood and Apprentice are easy adds to my favorite reads of the series. I agree that it felt a bit different than the rest of the series but I think the difference was pulled off well. When it seemed so close to being resolved so early on, I kept glancing at the percent left to read (I read the kindle ebook) and wondering what would happen.
My favorite scenes were the one mentioned above with Mira and Eve and the 'Roarke boost' - that was hilarious. Also, the scene with Roarke, Eve, and Summerset: I just love watching their family develop. I think it might get old if it just stayed at that initial layer of quipping between Summerset and Eve even though the quips are so funny. But it being combined with scenes like this in books along the way keep their growth as a family feeling so genuine.
Really interested to see how Officer Shelby comes along. Oh and I loved the comparison of Rayleen Straffo and Willow. Innocent in Death is another of my favorites and when everything starts pouring out of Willow it had a similar chill to it all. Similar enough that it was cool looking at how Eve has grown without it being the same scenario.
I wrote up my review; it was a 4 star book for me.
Ariel wrote: "I loved this book. I think Brotherhood and Apprentice are easy adds to my favorite reads of the series. I agree that it felt a bit different than the rest of the series but I think the difference..."
Very well said, Ariel. I agree with all of your thoughts here very much. I also found it fascinating when Roarke became so completely frustrated when faced with "tending to" both Eve and Summerset; he couldn't seem to handle doing both at once. One minute he's so typically worried about the center of his world (Eve) and the next, he is nearly taking her head off. I loved how Summerset stepped in like the "dad" and made them both stop, with obvious affection toward both of them. Yes, they've really formed a family. It was touching and humorous, as these moments often are; some of my favorite moments in the series include both of these emotions.
That's such a great point, Jeanine. In most books you see the practical side of Summerset being a father-figure like making soup and mentioning it to Roarke or Eve in a way that will get them to pause for a second and eat it/take care of themselves, you see him being very conscious of them even when he's sniping with Eve. Then you have these bigger moments and they really are fascinating and touching just as you say. Roarke's reaction definitely makes the moment even better, there's so much at the root of that frustration and his need to protect them both.
Considering Summerset and Eve were the only family Roarke has before he discover his Irish family, his reaction was realistic. Eve is usually the one in the middle of danger, so for Roarke to see Summerset injured hits harder for him. His need to protect is one of his greatest attributes. And I agree about the growth of their little family. They come to know the time and place for their "jabs" at one another. That little reprieve eases Roarke's mind too I'm sure lol.
Oh, yes, I'm sure it does. Roarke never has to worry about it being boring between the two of them! I agree about Summerset being injured hitting harder/differently. Summerset being injured felt like the first time you see a parent or parent-figure sick in the hospital/facing something that points out their mortality. Especially since Summerset has always been such a rock for him. You're absolutely right, it felt so realistic that Roarke would be rocked by Summerset's being injured/in danger and it would spark that tug of emotion.
Mod
Thanks for the reminder about Rayleen Straffo! I think in Willow we get to see who Rayleen would have been if she'd been allowed to remain unchecked.
I thought of her, too, and maybe that's why I believed Willow might have had something to do with her stepmother Susann's death.
I also like how Summerset and Eve are becoming closer, even though they still like to snipe at each other. I know they both really respect each other and I love how in this moment that they really come together as a family unit. All three of them. I understand how Roarke felt about wanting Summerset to go home and rest and not to spend the rest of this god-awful evening at Police Central. On the other hand I could see Eves POV. I thought they came up with a good comprimise.
I will say that Willow did remind me of the Rayleen from Innocent except her crazy was blatant and not hidden. The girl from Apprentice was one that had issues that was obvious and I felt they missed a big part that I saw which was she was turning into the boy her father wanted. Her father's preference was so obvious but never addressed and I felt it was something that could and should have been explored. I mean he never acknowledge her as Willow but Wil.Rayleen to me was dangerous because her crazy was hidden which meant she could kill and be well hidden. Willow was dangerous because she was calculating like Rayleen but didn't care who the victim was where Rayleen killed people who got in her way.
I thought it was great that Eve decided that they should go back to the birthday party at the end; it was a sign of her character growth as was her acknowledging the tug at her heart from Bella.
Jeanine, You are right. Had APPRENTICE IN DEATH been one of the first books in the series, Eve would have wanted to go home and into the hologram and punch it out with a Droid.DIVIDED IN DEATH to me was where I saw Eve's growth of change and acceptance of life.
Finished!! Some thoughts:"the Dallas Palace" -- I like it!!
Hillary Rodham Clinton High School? Love it!!
Dallas owns the best ice cream in NY? "Peabody must never know."
Finally, I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet. (I am going to go back and go through the entire thread now that I'm done.) It's just that I kept on waiting to find something out.
(view spoiler)
Jonetta (msg #93) -- YES!! It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop in the book for me. I kept on expecting that to come out. I was sure since she despised the stepmother and hated any brothers she would've done her in. Also, these can't have been the first PEOPLE she's ever killed.Also, for those who think that the father was guilty for creating the evil, I don't believe that. She was born evil. Dad just made it easy for her to kill people with it.
Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Jonetta (msg #93) -- YES!! It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop in the book for me. I kept on expecting that to come out. I was sure since she despised the stepmother and hated any brothe..."I agree the Dad didn't create what was already there. She could not hide what she was at all.
Yeah, it's good thing Dad was medicating. I kept on expecting Dallas to show Dad the footage from the interviews.
Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Yeah, it's good thing Dad was medicating. I kept on expecting Dallas to show Dad the footage from the interviews."I don't think he would have believed it. He was so about his own world that he never truly was paying attention to Willow. I think he treated her like a son anyway and was surprised they didn't address it.
Mod
No, I don't think Dad taught her evil. It was there.
Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Jonetta (msg #93) -- YES!! It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop in the book for me. I kept on expecting that to come out. I was sure since she despised the stepmother and hated any brothe..."I agree. It only makes sense....she's had to have killed others before the situations mentioned in the book. I think that kind of thing escalates till it blows up big time. It would be interesting to find out how many and who were first. She wouldn't necessarily have used the gun/rifle.
Maybe it can become a 'cold case' for later.
I'm in the same boat; I was waiting to find out that Willow had killed her stepmother too during my first read. But I do think that Willow having the idea to kill her stepmother not crossing her mind could be plausible/makes sense. It goes into what Willow was being at the root of her killings and her personality vs. her dad creating it. She needed to believe that she was it for him, needed to believe that all the rest in her life were disgustingly stupid for not seeing how powerful and skilled she was. Which was probably why him treating her like a son wasn't addressed completely satisfactorily (they do mention it a few times so it is addressed to a degree). Her dad was just a means to an endgame with just enough energy behind the drugs and the delusions to bolster her ego and actions. If that had run dry/if she'd been given a chance to see him change once a new baby came into the picture - I absolutely think she would have killed the stepmom and her kid.
It's interesting that the book mentions Rayleen because killing the stepmom prior to her giving birth - that's totally a Rayleen thing. Rayleen plotted against anyone that got in her way, Willow believed no one ever stood a chance of getting in her way. Rayleen's game was a sick version of chess but Willow would have no problem standing up and knocking all the pieces off the board because there's no way she could fathom her opponent being able to move against her anyway. She might have eventually morphed into a more Rayleen-like plotter had her illusions been broken but her father had already shown preference for her above her mother and, in her mind, her stepfather, stepbrother, and each victim she killed. I believed her when she said what she did about the stepmother in interview.
I was on the fence about things until the interview but going back over the story it all clicked pretty well.
I think Rayleen and Willow would have thought each other equally weak and pointless. Rayleen needed attention, admiration, and fear; she saw that as power. Willow saw autonomy and physical skill as power. Rayleen never plotted to end up alone. She wouldn't have known what to do without a sycophant or two following her around; that's how Eve got her to confess. It made complete sense to her that Eve would respect and fear her. Willow never tried to command respect from Eve; in her eyes, respect of her skills was a given and the only people that would deny her achievements would be those that were too stupid to get it.
Jonetta wrote: "Lol! I was waiting for you to see my message:)No, I don't think Dad taught her evil. It was there."
Jonetta, I agree with you.
Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Finished!! Some thoughts:"the Dallas Palace" -- I like it!!
Hillary Rodham Clinton High School? Love it!!
Dallas owns the best ice cream in NY? "Peabody must never know."
Finally, I don't kno..."
I got a kick out of HRC HS also. And love whenever Roarke springs a surprise "you own this" on Eve. Now an ice cream place like that he could buy me any time.
I wondered a couple times about your spoiler also - but it just had been investigated too well to be anything but an accident. But after the baby was born. Well then. All bets off on that kid living to adulthood was my feeling.
That was my thought too Penni. Any children after her would not live long.
Penni wrote: "Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Finished!! Some thoughts:"the Dallas Palace" -- I like it!!
Hillary Rodham Clinton High School? Love it!!
Dallas owns the best ice cream in NY..."
I love that he puts a great deal of thought into what he buys her though. She happens to love icecream. He thought about buying her the "Thin Blue Line" cop bar, because it was a cop bar. He doesn't always tell her about what he does for her either....that's the real kick. He does it to protect her financially in case something were to happen to him, I think.
I think so also - and also just because he can and certain things I think make him think of her. And so he does it. I love that.
She has her candy stash and now the ice cream parlor. The candy thief found her candy, how long before he/she/they find out about the ice cream. Lol. I kind of want Peabody to find out just to get her reaction.
Mod
Penni, you're probably right about the stepmother's death and, yeah, that baby would have been doomed, especially because he was a boy.
I've just gotten to this part of the book. She just shot the lawyer and others at Madison Square Garden. I liked how Dallas was so concerned about her friends, even Summerset that she could barely concentrate until she knew that were all safe.I wish I had a husband like Roarke!!! My own ice cream store. Ice cream is my weakness.
Penni wrote: "I think so also - and also just because he can and certain things I think make him think of her. And so he does it. I love that."Yes, I agree.
Even though they are not best BUDS, I know there is a lot of respect And regard between Summerset & Eve.They both understand they are important to Roarke.
I just can't see Summerset at ROCK CONCERT, even if it is Mavis.
Summerset was smitten with Mavis the first time they met so I'm sure he'll do anything for her including going to one of her many concerts. :)
I think S looks to Mavis as an adopted daughter and Bella as adopted Gdaughter.
Mara wrote: "Even though they are not best BUDS, I know there is a lot of respect And regard between Summerset & Eve.They both understand they are important to Roarke.
I just can't see Summerset at ROCK CONC..."
I agree. That really threw me.
Mara wrote: "I think S looks to Mavis as an adopted daughter and Bella as adopted Gdaughter."I agree - remember when Mavis was getting married - S 'lent' her his wife's wedding ring and then 'gave' her away!
I really enjoyed the book. Interesting new insights into the relationships. MDy
Mod
Seeing Eve and Roarke with Bella in the most current books says they're not ready to be parents. The idea terrifies them both. Do I want to see hem as parents? Yes. Do I want it enough to see an end to the series? Heck no. I rather have them be kid-less for another 10 yeas so we can get more of them. If any of the couples in the series have babies, I would love it for to be Charles and Louise.
I agree. I really do want to see them as parents. But I think part of that is even though it's less than 2 years in their time, it's 20 years for me!
Mod
I think your insight is dead on. Louise and Charles as parents are probably next or another one for Mavis. Eve and Roark? They're still trying to settle into marriage.
As far as I know Eve & Roarke do not want children. Even though Eve loves Bella, she balks when Mavis gives Bella to Eve.
I forgot which book it is but Roarke says he does want children with Eve... when they're both ready. So it's an option for them. He rather just enjoy their marriage for now.
I am pretty sure that is Survivor that he says that. But maybe he says it a couple other times? Roadie definitely sees them having a family one day, Eve is the terrified one. But she is getting much better with Bella these days
Mod
Lol! I automatically read it as Roarke until I looked at Jonetta's comment. Haha.
Omg. I have seen it do worse things. Yup, pretty sure I was talking about Roarke.
Mod
Roarke as a Roadie...sigh! lol
Well he is part of Eve's entourage and helps with her cases so why not be her roadie lol.
I wonder what he would say about that title? Lol
J.D. Robb
Books mentioned in this topic
Brotherhood in Death (other topics)Brotherhood in Death (other topics)
Brotherhood in Death (other topics)
Brotherhood in Death (other topics)
I wish I had known that. Is that always the case? I am going to wait a little while to read it, so will enjoy at the spoiler zone comments later.